This invention relates to a system and a method for liquid silicon containment, such as during the casting of high purity silicon used in solar cells or solar modules. The containment apparatus includes a shielding ember adapted to prevent breaching molten silicon from contacting structural elements or cooling elements of a casting device, and a volume adapted to hold a quantity of breaching molten silicon with the volume formed by a bottom and one or more sides.

This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Cooperative Agreement No.: DE-FC36-07GO17049 under prime contract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory awarded by the Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in this invention.